Converting a Saiga

While the AK series of military weapons have an excellent reputation for reliability and durability, manufacturing methods have not always been the best.  This is especially evident when considering finishes applied by the various manufacturing facilities in which the weapons are made.  Some countries do a better job than others; Bulgaria and the former Czechoslovakia produced guns with finishes on par with Western armories.  At the other end of the spectrum, AKs have been manufactured with finishes that look like they were applied by kindergartners.  The most common finish is a thick, black paint.  Paint is much easier to apply than a phosphate or oxide finish and is at least an order of magnitude cheaper.  Unfortunately, it is the least durable of military finishes.

Since Saigas are finished with paint, this build-up will address the painting technique.  However, phosphating, oxiding, or none of the more exotic finishes like Moly Resin® would be appropriate.